Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC drew 0-0 in the Ninja A-League at polytec Stadium on Saturday, leaving the reigning champion Mariners out of the finals.
The Mariners, knowing only a win would lock-in finals on their terms, got on the front foot early and tested Sydney’s defence with a couple of dangerous set-piece deliveries into the box.
They could not have come any closer to that crucial opening goal than in the 17th minute when Eliza Familton streamed in behind down the right-hand side, but the 18-year-old’s shot rolled onto the base of the post and bounced to Sydney’s advantage.
Central Coast continued to creep forward but were reminded of Sydney’s threat going back the other way when Amber Luchtmeijer nearly found space to shoot in the box, being closed down right at the vital moment as she shaped to pull the trigger.
Central Coast turned to the bench quickly after half-time and former Sky Blue Jynaya Dos Santos nearly made an instant impact with an excellent ball into the box, but Millie Farrow couldn’t get a shot away as she was shepherded away from the danger area.
A combination of Sydney’s defensive solidity and poor execution from the Mariners meant the best chances of the dying embers went the way of the visitors as they hit on the break, with Lorena Baumann required to make a sublime last-ditch tackle to deny Riley Tanner in the box.
Tori Tumeth, one of two Sydney players left with a bloodied nose in a bruising second half, burst free and played in Luchtmeijer whose shot was deflected out for a corner. That ensuing set piece stayed out of the Mariners’ net in incredible fashion as Annalee Grove pulled off two astonishing interventions, first to tip Kirsty Fenton’s header onto the crossbar and second to swipe the ball away from Fenton’s would-be tap-in on the rebound.
Six minutes of added time and a little bit of extra generosity from the referee weren’t enough to find a dramatic late winner, leaving the Mariners to hope for a Canberra United win over Brisbane Roar to give them finals football.
Central Coast still had a chance to make the finals if Canberra United could beat Brisbane Roar, but a 2-1 Roar win ended their hopes as they fell just short of Melbourne Victory on goal difference.
They become the second straight reigning champion to fall outside the top six the following season after Sydney did so last season. Having never missed the finals in each of the previous 16 seasons before 2024/25, the Sky Blues slumped to their lowest-ever finish of 10th place this term. The silver lining for the Sky Blues comes in their avoidance of a maiden wooden spoon, with that point lifting them above Western Sydney Wanderers and bestowing that unwanted honour upon their rivals.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
All the action as Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC ended their Ninja A-League seasons with a 0-0 draw.
WHAT THEY SAID
Sydney FC interim head coach James Slaveski.
Sydney FC defender Tori Tumeth.
Central Coast Mariners defender Lorena Baumann.
Central Coast Mariners head coach Kory Babington.
